How to take a pallet apart without breaking it

Explore the Art of Pallet Dismantling with Jesper Makes!

Join me, Jesper, in an adventurous journey through the world of recycled woodwork, where I reveal the secrets of efficiently dismantling various types of pallets from around the globe. In this detailed guide, I tackle four unique pallet styles, showcasing the most effective techniques and tools for the task.

🔨 Featured Tools & Techniques:

Discover the effectiveness of the Sawzall, Pallet Buster, Car Jack, and my innovative, homemade pallet dismantling tool, alongside traditional methods like prybars and hammers.
Acknowledging @jeremylakenes6859's influential video, "Pallet Disassembly...DON'T USE A HAMMER!!!", I delve into the debate of using a Sawzall and the implications of leaving nails in wood.
🕒 Chapters for Easy Navigation:

00:00 - Discovering the Best Pallet Dismantling Methods
00:25 - Dismantling the EUR Pallet
01:53 - Three Techniques to Remove Pallet Blocks
02:16 - Assessing the Sawzall's Efficiency
03:07 - The North American Pallet
03:18 - Dismantling Square Block Pallets
04:57 - @TheWoodenRider's Pallet Buster in Action
05:19 - Learning from Pallet Disassembly Failures
🎵 Enhance Your Videos with Epidemic Sound:

🔗 Connect with Jesper Makes:

📺 Stay Updated with Jesper Makes:

[eternalfizzer]

This is the most thorough, systematic, region specific instructional I've seen. Thanks a lot for demonstrating a simple way to disassemble, without unnecessary destruction, efficiently with the tools I've got on hand. (And how to select a pallet.)

[nigejuan]

Can I just say that it's refreshing to see a thorough yet simple explanation of the breakdown of these pallets with all the tools needed here at home. Brilliant tutorial Sir.

[sisie]

Thanks so much for showing this info in a clear and concise manner and providing instructions that don't require expensive tools.

[davidjacksonjackson]

I love videos like this, it just shows what a man can do when he puts his mind to it, but it also shows what useless men cannot do

[danfyes]

Thank you so much for this video! I've almost finished taking apart a dozen different pallets and your patented advanced pallet buster system works amazingly!!!

[Aatell]

As a guy who worked at a pallet manufacturing company. A saw saw with a bi metal blade definitely does the trick faster then anything. Simply set atop some sawhorses or something and run the saw between the two by four and top boards cutting the nails.

[kevinfrench]

Great video, I picked up a couple tips.

The "Nail Remover" is well worth the investment. It will slide over even the bent nails and with a pull of the trigger eliminates the cutting off of the nails, tapping the nails down and in most cases, the nail is driven out of the wood, 3 steps in one.
The other thing I have is a large magnet to pick up all the nails.

Thanks for the upload.

[izadupont]

A real man. I admire mens that has that knowledge!

[jasonrustmann]

I had no idea how effective the two board technique you use could be! Holy cow! And it's so simple, I'll definitely have to try that 👍

[dawnelder]

Thank you. I built a greenhouse on the one side of my husband's carport this year using old pallets. But struggled with getting some of them apart. Especially those with the blocks.
My husband wants me to build a storage building as a wall on the other side next year. You just made that job a lot easier. The middle was always hard as well. The pallet buster looks great. Great video.

[whathappened]

Hello from America.. I use almost exactly the same method of disassembly as you do. I do not cut boards though. It takes some patience to figure out different pallets, but I like the challenge. I do crates also, lots of good wood in them as well. Thanks for the video!

[pamelahunter]

Thank you for this video. I am a 69 year old retiree and have discovered the Wonderful world of pallet wood! As I write I am preparing to build a swing away a stand up dinner table for my dinning room. When not in use, a whole new room of space!

[szymondybowski]

Great informative video! Well done. I have learned from it how to dismantle without damage to the wood planks, which is a key for their later use within projects.

[martinpye]

Pallet buster one and two.... lol. Love your dry sense of humour.

[lindaburt]

I love your pallet buster kit. I will definitely have to try it out sometime. Thank you for sharing your skills.

[TomLewisGaming]

Appreciate this guide, it's been a lifesaver in obtaining wood for framing raised beds

[SuperJellicoe]

Jesper, I live on Vancouver Island, off the west coast of Canada. I have a large source of pallets to choose from and use the scissor jack, a claw hammer, and a large end wire cutter tool that I cannot remember how I acquired it, but those tools are my primary tools. I have cut some of the planks with a saw but it is a last resort. I choose the planking for particular reasons, based on the suitability. Thin planking can be for small boxes and the thicker planks can be for shelves or counter tops. One source of pallets come from a pre-formed concrete manufacturer. Heavily built but with a lot of concrete dust and grit but still useful.

I even found a long pallet that became my outside work bench! Just put a pair of sawhorse brackets under neath and instant worktable. It still has the original planking slats on top with the large gaps in between. Suits me for dropping a C clamp through the gap. Some of my other woodworkers at kind of sceptical but it works for me.

Like you, I cannot look at a log or plank as I once did - it was just firewood, now I am saving more wood for projects than I do for firewood. Thank you for your videos, they are inspiration for my mind to develop into projects that project my own thoughts.


Two days ago, I was looking at the large pallet spacer blocks that were the leftovers from my latest, pallet reduction chore and was thinking of cutting them in two and build a couple of cutting boards, then I see what you have done! Marvelous! Hey, thanks again. Ion

[J.Eddie.T]

Lovin' the pallet buster 1 and 2. thanks for the awesome tips!

[qibzibp]

This video is so engaging, it felt like watching a movie lol

[jacquesdubois]

That's a very Danish accent, Jesper! Thanks for the pallet busting tips.